Continental Constructing Tires From Dandelions

- Continental Tire makes major advancements in utilizing dandelions as an alternative source of natural rubber.

- First tires produced and tested from dandelion-derived rubber.

News provided by

Continental Tire the Americas

Jun 02, 2016, 10:00 ET

FT. MILL, S.C., June 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Most people view dandelions as a nuisance. But here at Continental Tire, we embrace the flowering weed as a key component to the future of tires. That's right, in conjunction with The Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology, Julius Kuehn-Institute, and EKUSA, Continental Tire has produced, and tested, the first tires where the tread is made 100 percent out of dandelion natural rubber as a polymer. Plans are in place to begin manufacturing consumer road tires made from dandelion-derived rubber in five to 10 years.

Learn how Continental and its partners are cultivating natural rubber from dandelion roots to produce tires. An effort to protect sensitive environmental areas that produce rubber trees.
Learn how Continental and its partners are cultivating natural rubber from dandelion roots to produce tires. An effort to protect sensitive environmental areas that produce rubber trees.
A quick overview of Continental's Taraxagum™ Tires made from dandelion roots.
A quick overview of Continental's Taraxagum™ Tires made from dandelion roots.
Better for the Environment and a more rapid cultivation option: The growth cycle of a rubber tree is seven times longer than the growth cycle of a Russian dandelion.
Better for the Environment and a more rapid cultivation option: The growth cycle of a rubber tree is seven times longer than the growth cycle of a Russian dandelion.
Dr. Peter Zmolek, director of research and development, passenger and light truck tires for Continental Tire the Americas, displays the roots of a Russian dandelion.
Dr. Peter Zmolek, director of research and development, passenger and light truck tires for Continental Tire the Americas, displays the roots of a Russian dandelion.
The Russian Dandelion root contains natural rubber latex that is very similar to the rubber tree, but can be grown just about anywhere.
The Russian Dandelion root contains natural rubber latex that is very similar to the rubber tree, but can be grown just about anywhere.
The growth cycle for the Russian dandelion is just one year and this species can thrive in a large part of the world in areas not suitable for food production.
The growth cycle for the Russian dandelion is just one year and this species can thrive in a large part of the world in areas not suitable for food production.
Learn how Continental and its partners are cultivating natural rubber from dandelion roots to produce tires. An effort to protect sensitive environmental areas that produce rubber trees.
A quick overview of Continental's Taraxagum™ Tires made from dandelion roots.
Better for the Environment and a more rapid cultivation option: The growth cycle of a rubber tree is seven times longer than the growth cycle of a Russian dandelion. Dr. Peter Zmolek, director of research and development, passenger and light truck tires for Continental Tire the Americas, displays the roots of a Russian dandelion. The Russian Dandelion root contains natural rubber latex that is very similar to the rubber tree, but can be grown just about anywhere. The growth cycle for the Russian dandelion is just one year and this species can thrive in a large part of the world in areas not suitable for food production.

Experience the interactive Multimedia News Release here: http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7851851-continental-dandelion-tires/

Between 10 and 30 percent of a car tire includes natural rubber, while truck tires can include proportionally higher amounts. Today, natural rubber is still obtained almost exclusively from the rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis) which can only be cultivated in what is referred to as the "rubber belt" around the equator, a fraction of the world's land surface. Global demand for natural rubber is set to rise in the next few years and at the same time, the changing world makes it challenging to meet this demand.

The growth cycle of a rubber tree is roughly seven years before it can start producing latex that can be used in rubber production. This rubber made from this latex is key as it has unique performance attributes that can't be replicated in synthetic rubber making natural rubber a must for tire production. Therefore, market demand is outpacing production capacities, a situation that, in the past, has led to unpredictable price volatility.

Enter the dandelion. The team at Continental Tire looked to the dandelion as an alternative source of natural rubber. Before you start thinking you can harvest the dandelions from your lawn into a cash crop, think again. Continental isn't using just any old dandelion but a specific Russian species. This is the only dandelion that can be used as an alternative source for natural rubber production. The roots of this dandelion species contain the natural rubber latex (the source for natural rubber used in tires), meaning supply will be steadier and easier to control leading to greater price stability. This crop is much less sensitive to weather than the rubber tree.

"In agricultural terms, dandelions are an undemanding plant, growing in moderate climates, even in the northern hemisphere, and can be cultivated on land not suitable for food production," according to Dr. Carla Recker, who heads the Continental team involved in the development of this super material. "This means that rubber production is conceivable near our tire factories, for instance, and the significantly shorter transport routes would also reduce CO2 emissions."

Transporting rubber from South America or West Africa to North America and Europe for manufacturing is a long and costly journey that also contributes significantly to the output of CO2. If this part of the process can be consolidated to agricultural zones of the Americas and Europe, the economic and carbon emissions benefits would be a significant boon to the tire industry.

This particular dandelion can thrive in a large part of the world. The growth cycle for the Russian dandelion is approximately one year. Conversely, the rubber tree has a long-life cycle, where the first harvest could start seven years after planting. Also of note, the dandelions Continental are working with were optimized without the use of genetic engineering. So how close is Continental to making tires produced from dandelions available to consumers? Dr. Peter Zmolek has some insight.

"Our target is within the next 5 to 10 years," said Zmolek, director of research and development of passenger and light truck tires for Continental Tire the Americas. "In the summer of 2014, Taraxagum™ tires were produced and tested under summer and winter conditions on our proving grounds in Germany and Sweden. The results were very encouraging and our continued development efforts are on track."

The initial tests run so far demonstrate that the tire made from Taraxagum™ show an equivalent, "property profile" when compared to tires made from conventional natural rubber. While the potential is great, significant hurdles must be overcome before the use of this natural material can be fully utilized. For one, synchronizing the agronomy process (planting, growing and harvesting) to continually changing demand presents a significant challenge. Nevertheless, the team at Continental was recently able to extract several kilos of dandelion rubber from a small lab system to build the Taraxagum™ tires.

Continental's long-term goal to find an ecologically, economically and socially viable solution for the increasing demand for natural rubber is right around the corner. So next time you see a dandelion as just a weed, think again. It's the future of tires and will allow all of us to give a little bit back to nature.

For more information, visit www.taraxagum.com.

About Continental Tire the Americas
Based in Fort Mill, S.C., Continental Tire the Americas, LLC manufactures and distributes a complete premium line of passenger, light truck and commercial tires for original equipment and replacement markets. Our ultra-high, performance tires include award-winning technologies that focus on safety, help save money, and reduce CO2 emissions. Continental's premium products are available at leading independent tire dealers, car dealers, and mass retail companies across North America. Continental Tire is a proud supporter of IMSA, Major League Soccer (MLS), College Basketball, Team är-kªn', West Coast Customs, Lingenfelter Performance Engineering, and Petty's Garage. For more information visit, www.continentaltire.com.

About Continental AG
Continental develops intelligent technologies for transporting people and their goods. As a reliable partner, the international automotive supplier, tire manufacturer, and industrial partner provides sustainable, safe, comfortable, individual, and affordable solutions. In 2015, the corporation generated sales of €39.2 billion with its five divisions, Chassis & Safety, Interior, Powertrain, Tires, and ContiTech. Continental currently employs more than 212,000 people in 55 countries.

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SOURCE Continental Tire the Americas

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